Bearing having a nonmetallic fabric lining



H. D. cr-:Yr-:R 2,188,722

l Filed MICh 27, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l lgina Jan. 30, 1940.

BEARING HAVING A NONMETALLIC FABRIC LINING Haz'v Jan. 30, 1940. H. D. GEYER I BEARING HAVING A NONMETALLIC FABRIC LINING Original Filed March 27, 1935 2 'Sheets-Sheet' 2 @ffm P nm/mm M M M MU Mm W mw/WM M yl m HB Patented Jan. 30,

HAVING A NoNME'rALLIo FABRIC LINING g f BEAmNG .PATENT Harvey DtGeyer, Dayton, Ohio, assigner to' Gen- I eral Motors Corporation, Detroit,A Mich., a cor poration. of Delaware originar application March 27, 1935, serialk No."

Divided 'and this yapplication January s, 1938, Serial N0. 184,052

` s claims. (ci. sos-24,6), I l

electric. induction furnace. vThe eddy currents y This 'invention relates to brous-lined bearings or other articles produced by firmly bonding a non-metallic fibrous lining to a supporting metal back. f A

In the' bearings or other articles of this invention the nonmetallicbrous lining is surfacebonded by a metal stratum to its vsupporting metal back 'andl henceis very strongly fixed throughout .the contacting surfaces by a bond which will withstand rough usage and relatively high temperatures, and will not be destroyedlor weakened by any ordinary liquids or known bearing lubricants.' Also the brous Alining may be very readily impregnated with a normally solid lubricating material dissolved in a solvent. Upon the evaporation of ,fsuch solvent after impregnation there willremain a exible solid lubricating coatingstrongly adhering to the exible brous lining.

An object lof the invention therefore is to provide bearings or other articles of the above character.

This application is a division of my prior application S. N. 13,366, filed March 27, 1935, issued September 6, 1938, to Patent No. 2,129,125.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through a unlversalball joint bearing sleeve for the torque tube bearing in an automobile chassis. 'Ihe cylindrical fabric bearing lining in this figure is at# tached to the outer metal sleeve bythe methods of this invention.` y y Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the'metal sleeve before the fabric lining has been inserted therein.

Fig. 3 shows aside View of two separate cylindricalfabric sleeves, cut to the proper length', before being inserted in the metal sleeve of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4` illustrates a machinev and method for spray-coating with a low-melting metal a series of fabric sleeves of Fig. '3 prior to their insertion in the metal sleeves.

Fig. 5 is an end view,-partly in section, of the machine shownin` Fig. `4. 1 v

Fig. 6 illustrates the final step in the specic method disclosed herein for4 purposes of `illustration. The spray-coated fabric sleeve is held pressed .tightly against the interior lsurface of the metal sleeve by a non-metallic expandible core, while the whole unit is placed within an' y transmitted to the ball joint and thence to originate theA desired heat Within the metal sleeve itself, and hence the intervening stratum of lowinelting metal between vthe fabric and metal sleeves can be fused or softened sufficiently rapidly so that the fabric sleeve will not be damaged` by the heat and a permanent strong metal bond between the fabric and metal sleeves. will be obtained.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout tlieA several views.

Num-eral I0 designates the metal sleeve, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which may be made of a ferrous metal such as steel. A series of tubular fabric pieces II, shown in Fig. 3, are provided. 'I'hese may be of tubular woven or flat-woven cotton fabric, or of any other suitable non-metallic fibrous material that is yielding to the desired degree and hence capable of insulating `against vibration. Fig. 1 shows the fabric lining II securely surface-bonded to the inner surface of lthe metal sleeve I0 by athin stratum I2 of a suitable low melting metal. Such low-melting metal may be an alloy of tin and lead, or a suitable alloy of the bismuth-lead-tin-cadmium groups of low melting alloys.v The fabric lining II may be then impregnated with a suitable lubricant such 'as lubricating oil or grease, or a finely divided solid lubricant such as graphite. But preferably there is used. in such bearings a dry lubricating material consisting chiey of a matrix of high viscosity vcellulose nitrate with a suitable' plasticizer incorporated therein and flnely divided amorphous graphite. This lubricant may be made and applied to the fabric II vas disclosed and claimed in my Patent No.

2,029,366,l issued February 4, 1936, led July 17, 1933, for a Solid:lubricatingmateriaL `The fabric lining II, after being impregnated with any suitable lubricant, provides a resilient non-me-` tallicsliding bearing for the inserted torque tube (not'shown) and isolates ythe supported torque tube from metallic contact with the metal sleeve I0 which is integral 'with the universal ball member I3. Thus vibrations in the'torque tube are minimized andV prevented from being' directly g the lchassis frame of thev automobile.

The metrica ofbonding the fabric' lining Il" 'I'he fabric sleeves are' cut to length (as shown in Fig. 3) and a series `ofthemare slipped upon mandrel 8 and the separate sleeves I2 cut oif to the outer metal sleeve I0 ,will now bedescribedxo moved lengthwise in the path of the molten metal therefrom after they have been spray-coated in the machine shown in Figs. 4 and 5. This spraycoating machine comprises a container 20 in which a supply of the above described low metal alloy 2| is kept in a molten state by the gas burner 22 located under the container. Directly above container 20 is mounted a rotating shaft 23 having a series of thin metal spraying disks 24 lxed thereto, these disks being of a metal having a melting point suiciently high to prevent damage thereto by insertion in the molten metal alloy 2| is kept at such a point that the lower portions of disks 24 are immersed therein. Now when shaft 23 is driven at a suitably high speed by the motor 25 and the drive belt 26, the thin spray disks 24 will pick up the molten metal 2| and throw it off radially inlvery ne particles thus giving something which may be called a metal mist. 'Ihe higher the speed of rotation of disks 24 the finer will be the molten metal particles thrown off thereby, and vice versa within limits. Thus the average size of the fine particles may be varied to givev the best adherence for any particular fabric which is being used.

^ The mandrel 8, upon which the fabric is mounted, is laid upon the revolving rollers 30 and spray from disks 24 until a uniform spray-coat |2 of the desired thickness has been applied thereto. The rollers 30 are driven by the belt 3| and pulley 32 fixed to shaft 23 in the form shown in the drawings. Obviously if desired rollers 30 may not be power driven and the mandrel 8 may be simply rolled over to a new position by hand after each passage of mandrel 8 longitudinally through the molten metal spray until the entire cylindrical surface of the fabric tube is uniformly covered with a spray-coat I2 of the desired thickness. Preferably removable metal shields are provided to catch the unused portion of the metal spray from the disks 24 and thus prevent the depositing of the metal spray upon other parts of the machine., By this means the metal deposited upon the removable shields may be salvaged at desired intervals simply 'by removing the shields and melting the deposited `metal therefrom. It is desirable to spray the high speed against the fabric I| that they will adhere very strongly thereto and yet will not burn the vegetable ber thereof to any material extent. The molten metal particles hit the fabric I I with such speed that they partially pene- `trate into the fibers thereof while said particles are yet plastic and thus the spray coat is substantially keyed to the fabric II. The uniform fineness of these metal particles however cause them to be cooled so rapidly' upon the fabric that they solidify without burning away their keying effect. Of course if the fabric |I is an asbestos fabric, the particles of the spray-coat thrown thereagainst may be quite large without any harmful results to the fabric and a deeper penetration of the fabric thus obtained. As stated above, thesize of the metal particles may be readily adjusted by adjusting the speed -of the disks 24 to'give the best results with the particular kind of fabric being used, considering bein the inne of materiel thereof and the coarseness or looseness of its the mandrel 8 and inserted loosely one into each of the metal sleeves l0, the lnterior'surfaces of which have first been treated so that it will more readilybond to the spray-coat |2 when heated to the proper temperature. Such treatingY of the inside surface of the metal sleevel I0 may be only proper cleaning and fluxing thereof; but preferably when sleeve I0 is of steel or ferrous metal, its bonding surface is rst coated with some Aother metal coat lwhich will more readily bond or alloy. with the spray-coat I2 upon the fabric sleeve l I when subsequently heated in contacttherewith. For instance, the inside surface of the steel sleeve I0 may be coated with copper,

tin, zinc, or Awith the same low-melting alloyforming the spray-coatl 2- whatever that may be.'

Fig. 6 .shows one method of pressing thespraycoated surface I2 on the fabric II snugly against the inside surface of the metal sleeve I0. This is done here by inserting an expandible cylinder 40 of soft rubber (or other yielding non-metallic material) into the fabric sleeve II and then forcing an expanding pin 4| of wood or other nonmetallic material through its central aperture. 'I'he flexibility and expansibility of the coated fabric tube I readily permits the desired pressure to be obtained between the two 'metal surfaces which are to. be bonded together by heat 'during this step in the method. The unit, thus' assembled, is then inserted bodily within the induction field of an electricinduction furnace 5| as shown somewhat diagrammatically in Fig. 6. vSince the metal sleeve I0 and the spray-coat I2 are the only metal portions of the inserted unit, these will be the only parts which will heat up due to the induced eddy currents. Hence all the heat will originate within the metal sleeve l0 and the spray-coat I2 and thus the spray-coat I2 will be very quickly brought up to the necessary temperature tocause it to bond to or alloy with the interior treatedsurface of sleeve l0. Preferably such an induction capacity is used that only a few seconds will be required to cause the spray-coat I2 to properly bo'nd to the metal sleeve I0. The speed of heating the spray-coat |2 to its bonding temperature is of high importance, because if it be heated only very slowly there will be that much more time for the heat to be conducted to the fabric with the possibility of scorching same and so weaken its keyed interlock with the spray-coat |2. If the fabric be of asbestos or mineral fiber, obviously the -speed of heating is not important from this standpoint and hence any other convenient method of heatin g may be used.

It is to be understood that the teachings herein disclosed may be applied for making other fo'rms of bearings than 'that chosen for illustration. For instance, the same principles may be applied for making half-cylindrical bearings, or flat bearings or ball and socket bearings, or thrust bearings. Obviously in each case it is necessary only that the spray-coated fabriclining be pressed into snug contact with its metal -backing and then suicient heat be applied to Also it is to bc understood that the principles of this invention may be applied for making any article other than bearings Wherever it is desired to bond a nonmetallic fabric sheet or fabric `portion of any shape to a metal backing by means lof a strong metal bonding lstratum I2 which is interlocked or keyed into the ber intersticesr of the'k nonmetallic fabric.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

l. A vibration-absorbing cushion bearing comprising: a metal back and a nonmetallic fabric bearing lining the contacting surface of which is bonded to said metal back by a low-melting metal stratum which is keyed to -said fabric lining by entering theinterstices between the fibers thereof.

2. A vibration-absorbing cushion bearing com prising: a tubular metal back and a nonmetallic fabric tubular bearing lining bonded to said metal back by a relatively thin low-melting metal stratum independently keyed to said fabric lining and surface bonded to said metal back.

3, A vibration-absorbing cushion bearing comprising: a tubular metal back and a nonmetallic resilient fibrous tubular lining bonded to said metal back by a relatively thin stratum of lowlmelting metal which is keyed to said brous lining by partial penetration therein.

4. A vibration-absorbing cushion bearing element comprising: a reinforcing metal back and a nonmetallic brous lining surface bonded to said metal back by a relatively thin stratum of lowmelting metal, said fibrous lining being at least partially impregnated with a flexible solid lubri 6. A vibration-absorbing cushion bearing cle-` ment comprising: a reinforcing metal back and a nonmetallic fibrous lining surface bonded to said metal back by a relatively thin stratum of lowmelting metal, said fibrous lining having its bear- Iing surface impregnated with cellulose nitrate and graphite.

7. A vibration-absorbing cushion bearing element comprising: a reinforcing metal back and a nonmetallic fibrous lining surface bonded to said metal back by' a relatively thin stratum of low-melting metal, said fibrous lining having its bearing surface impregnated with a solid yielding material comprising finely divided amorphous graphite and high viscosity cellulose nitrate.

8. A vibration-absorbing cushion bearing element comprising: a reinforcing metal back and a nonmetallic fibrous lining surface bonded to said metal back by a relatively thin 'stratum of low-melting metal, said fibrous lining having applied to its bearing surface a strongly adhering flexible solid lubricating compound.

HARVEY D. GEYER. 

